Warren Jones Master Class 2008
June 14, 2008
* Program *
"Per me giunto" from Don Carlo
Young Joo An, baritone and Allen Perriello, piano
"Sgombra è la sacra selva" from Norma
Natasha Flores, mezzo-soprano and Alan Hamilton, piano
"La donna è mobile" from Rigoletto
Nathaniel Peake, tenor and Dennis Doubin, piano
"Tu che di gel sei cinta" from Turandot
Rena Harms, soprano and Carl Pantle, piano
"Chi il bel sogno di Doretta" from La Rondine
Amanda Majeski, soprano and Eileen Downey, piano
* Notes *
Pianist Warren Jones gave a master class for the Merola Opera Program yesterday. He gave amusing introductions to each piece. With each person he went over various weaknesses, including pitch, diction, and posture. Jones sang much more than one would expect, his voice is quite nice. It was very interesting when Jones went over portato, telling the singers they should ask a string player to demonstrate when they have a chance. His comparison of German to Italian was also entertaining, comparing the pronunciation of "alles" to "tutti." With German one takes each sound one by one, but with Italian one makes the consonants within the vowels. His advised the apprentice coaches to attend to their first three fingers while accompanying singers, rather than their pinkies, as solo pianists do. It was impressive how quickly Jones was able to get results from the singers and pianists.
* Tattling *
Mr. Jones is rather witty, he was especially funny when he told one singer "you have to whack them on the head with fabulousness." When he was demonstrating how to sing "s" in Italian and then made the singer at hand repeat it, he asked someone to tell him if the sounds could be heard in the back. When the person responded in the affirmative and added that Jones' "s" was louder, he quipped "It always is because I'm tasteless."